Common Sense Media Review
By Susan Faust
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Impactful tale about conservation, curiosity, creativity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
GIFTS FROM THE GARBAGE TRUCK focuses on how Nelson Molina, a New York City sanitation worker, rescued 45,000 discarded objects from the trash and used them to create a unique museum. As a child, he became fascinated with repurposing found objects, and he learned an important lesson from his mother: "If someone can use it, don't throw it away." Those words became his lifelong mantra. Working in El Barrio, the East Harlem neighborhood where he was born and raised, Molina saw possibilities in garbage bags filled with junk that he then used to shape the "Treasures in the Trash Museum." The museum serves as "an invitation to think differently about the things we throw away." An introductory letter by Molina previews his story. Brief end matter includes key definitions and advice about how to minimize waste. Color photos of Molina and his work are also appended.
Is It Any Good?
This impactful biography about environmental activism narrowly focuses on how one New York City sanitation worker models what it means to be community-minded, conservation conscious, and creative in his everyday life and work. Gifts from the Garbage Truck pays tribute to Nelson Molina, an ordinary person who made a difference in his city. It is fun to read about how he aimed to reduce waste, bring people together, and share beauty. Oriol Vidal's colorful digital art accommodates intimate family scenes and everyday cityscapes to extend the clear and concise storyline. Everything fits together, even the endpapers that feature sketches of many discarded objects that today make up Molina's unique "Treasures in the Trash Museum." Kids will be drawn to this engrossing story about trash, not for an Oscar the Grouch ick factor, but rather as an example of how one person's trash is another person's treasure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Gifts from the Garbage Truck: A True Story About the Things We (Don't) Throw Away and ask questions about their own habits around trash. Does your family make any special efforts to minimize the amount of garbage it produces? If so, how?
Does your family separate garbage for landfill, compost, paper, and/or plastic? Do you help with the recycling?
In this book, Nelson Molina is curious about the discarded objects that he finds and creative about what he does with them. Good at communication, he is also grateful for the chance to inspire others and improve his community. Are there ways that you are creative, curious, and/or grateful? How?
Nelson Molina creates a museum of discarded items from the trash. Have you ever created your own museum of art work or collectibles? What was that like for you?
The illustrations show a particular neighborhood in New York City. How would you show your neighborhood?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Oriol Vidal
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Activism , Arts
- Character Strengths : Communication , Curiosity , Gratitude
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Sourcebooks
- Publication date : September 10, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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